6 December 2024

Three very different soft toy Teddies were discharged from my Hospital in the last couple of weeks.

The largest, 40-something Ted Big, had never before left his owner's side, and had quite a few holes that needed mending. After a gentle clean, I tidied up his earlier repairs, gave him new stuffing (leaving a bit of his old stuffing inside him for sentimental reasons), and re-embroidered his nose and smile. His owner nearly cried with joy when she came to collect Ted Big and take him home.

Podgy was smiling rather ruefully when he was admitted, realising that he a long hospital stay ahead of him. I came to love him dearly while bringing him back into the shape that his owner remembered from long ago. With his new stuffing, a new button eye and re-embroidered nose, smile and eyebrows, Podgy looked very jovial, and was full of gratitude for the care he had received.

Teddy was tiny compared to the other two patients, and he was also the easiest of them. All he asked for - and received - was a patch on his right arm, and off he went back to his busy life in London.

29 November

Bunny was admitted to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital with just a single injury but a pretty horrific looking one, having been all by decapitated. Fortunately, it did not take long to sew his poor head back on. To mark his passing to a new owner (father to daughter), I made him a new ruby bow instead of his old blue one - and Bunny hopped away very happy.

Meanwhile Yatsyk the cat, whom I had treated before, did not need any surgery on his repeat visit. All I had to do was give him a good gentle clean, as his fur had become rather matted. Yatsyk accepted his treatment quite gracefully and went back to his owner purring contentedly.

27 November

The latest patient at Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital, 51-year-old Billy, was a rather unusual bear. His head was furry, but the rest of his fur was a zipped jumpsuit, which he wore on his pink body.

Billy asked for a new eye and a full re-stuffing, which I was happy to provide. I also gave him a good gentle clean, patched him up a bit, mended a couple of holes in his jumpsuit, and topped up the embroidery on his nose. He left very happy with his new look.

15 November

Bear Bear had not left his adoring owner's side for nearly 20 years until the day he came to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital. Having been cuddled a great deal, he had become really threadbare, and had lost most of his stuffing. After a good clean, I gave him some new stuffing and underlined his entire body with new fabric. His treatment complete, Bear Bear could sit up properly again, and was ready for many more years of cuddling!

Another recent patient, 60-year-old Teddy, was certainly in good shape overall for his age. He did, however, have two obvious problems: no eyes and no paw pads. Teddy endured surgery with dignity and patience, and came out looking fresh and dapper. His new faux leather paw pads in particular gave him a nice vintage look, which he told me he was most happy with.

5 November

70-year-old Honey was admitted to my Hospital not long after I treated his brother Toffie. In the course of their long and eventful lives, both brothers had changed almost beyond recognition. In Honey's case, he had lost both eyes, most of his stuffing, practically all fur, and a large part of his body - though his nose and smile were remarkably well preserved. After an obligatory good clean, I embarked upon extensive reconstructive surgery, which proved totally successful. Once he recovered his eyesight, Honey inspected himself in the mirror and declared that he was happy with what he saw.

Here is a reminder of the transformation that Honey's brother Toffie underwent earlier. To conceal his disfigurement, he had arrived heavily disguised, so I had to remove his mask and protective clothes before I could start his treatment. As you can see, by the end of their treatments the two brothers looked a lot more alike than before.

3 November

My Teddies and I thoroughly enjoyed being at the Herb Farm Christmas Market in Sonning Common these last two days. David and Helen organised the event really well, the weather did not let us down, and a good time was had by all!

I said tearful goodbyes to Ashley, Graham, Jamie, Millie, Oakley and Reuben, who were all adopted and left with their new families, and all my Christmas Bears and Bunnies were sold out long before the Fair closed.

Many visitors wanted to book their beloved teddies and toys for treatment at Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital, so I had to tell them to wait a couple of month before I re-open the Hospital for new patients.

29 October

I could have sworn that Cuddlepuff was a dog but his owner called him a bear, and of course he knows best. In any case, true to his name, Cuddlepuff had certainly been cuddled a lot, so I had to patch quite a few holes on his lovely muzzle and his ears. I am quite sure he is now fit for many more years of cuddling. There was no doubt about what species another recent patient was. Catty came to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital rather limp and with many battle scars. After a good clean and brushing, I treated her wounds, gave her new stuffing, and re-embroidered her claws and smile. In the end she looked a proper cat again, ready to pounce.

 
My old friend Bobble had serious surgery on his first visit to my Hospital a couple of year ago. This time, he came for sartorial rather than surgical help, and I was glad to make him new pyjamas and a new nightcap (complete with a bobble of course).

20 October

Growly did not look too ill when she came to my Hospital, though her ears and paw pads did require some patching. The most important part, however, was a new growler, as her original one had stopped working - and I am sure you will agree that this just won't do when your name is Growly!   

A 60+ patient discharged a bit earlier was registered in the Hospital log as Teddy. While in hospital, he regained his sight thanks to a pair of nice new eyes, had all the holes repaired, and was thoroughly re-stuffed. He looked full of life when discharged, and was very pleased to return to his family.

An even older patient, 70-year-old Bear, was well preserved for his age. He just needed to have a few holes patched and some extra stuffing. Once his treatment was over, he was clearly ready to hug and be hugged.

18 October

I have made another Teddy to take to the Herb Farm Christmas Market in Sonning Common next month.
Take a look at Hudson, a sensitive and thoughtful little bear who likes me to read him books about science.

13 October

40-something Bear was admitted to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital for an eye replacement, and I did find him an eye that was identical to one he had lost. Bear also had his nose and smile re-embroidered, and a few holes stitched up - not to mention a gentle clean. I think he looked rather pleased when he was discharged.  

Another bear, 66-year-old Big, required more extensive treatment. I made him four nice new velvet paw pads (which he had chosen himself), patched and darned all the holes, completely re-stuffed him, and gave him a new growler. Big was most grateful and thanked me profusely, having regained the power of speech))

I do not often have elephant patients, so I was pleased to be able to help Babar. After a good clean, I rebuilt his trunk, re-covered his hands and feet, and underlined his skin with new fabric to treat the holes. When the treatment was finished, Babar looked years younger and full of energy - to the delight of his owner.

8 October

If you would like to adopt a one-of-a-kind traditional handmade Teddy - or just to say hello - come and meet Sasha's Bears at the Herb Farm Christmas Market in Sonning Common on 2nd and 3rd November! 

Among my Teddies that you can see there will be two new ones that I made this month, Luca and Oakley.

The two of them are good friends, but they could not be more different. Luca is a bit of a poseur, flaunting his beautiful lace collar. He is very much into art, opera, and all the finer things in life. Oakley is a lot more down to earth. A woollen scarf round his neck, he spends his time outdoors, getting his paws dirty helping about the garden or just playing rugby.

3 October

Not every patient admitted to Sasha's Teddy Bear Hospital requires extensive and protracted surgery - some only stay for a few hours or a couple of days.

Over the past few weeks, I have had a few fairly easy patients. Young Cottontail had his arm reattached in next to no time. 20-something Doggy stayed a bit longer, as I had to secure his ears and mend his nose. Meanwile Pop the donkey was literally in and out, with a new eye to replace one he had lost.

2 October

There was magic in the air at Asquith's Bearpawium in Henley-on-Thames last night, as my latest Teddy Bear Workshop came to an end. It is such a pleasure and privilege to contribute to the arrival into our world of new Teddy Bears!

This time I had seven students, all very able and willing, and over the course of four weeks we worked together to create seven new Teddies. Even though everyone was following the same pattern, it was no surprise that all the Teddies came out completely different - albeit all absolutely charming.

A special thank you goes to Rachel, Asquith's DIrector of Bears, for arranging and organising the workshop - and of course to my wonderful students.

If you are interested, the next workshop is scheduled for March 2025, and there are still some spaces available - please contact Asquiths on the link above for details.